In welcoming you to this conference, I wish to draw your attention to one of the clauses in the Freedom Charter of 1955, which says:

The above commitment was adopted by the pioneers of our freedom 50 years ago. It was relevant then as it is today. It was visionary then as it is today. It was useful then as it is useful today. It was powerful then as it is powerful now. It is indeed a call on all of us to transcend our parochial selves and rise to the challenges of today. The questions facing us today are: Are we measuring up to this challenge? What is our new commitment in 2005 going forward?

This seminar, Ladies and Gentlemen: takes place just when we have celebrated ten years of democracy, reviewed the past ten years, re-prioritized, re-engineered our strategies to face new challenges; it takes place in a year in we are facing Local Government Elections, where a sensitive matter like housing is going to be 'a political ball' again. We have precisely called this seminar to pre-empty the 'political game' around this issue. We want serious debate, discussions, engagements that will contribute to a better life for all and a home for all in this province and not 'politicking' on the weak and vulnerable.

This seminar is part and parcel of the many and varied strategies to implement and operationalize our national vision of promoting non-racialism, integration of society through the development of sustainable human settlements and quality housing. This is indeed a paradigm shift from the past where people were settled along racial lines, as far as possible from the areas of economic activity and put in environments that ensures continued suffrage for both people and the environment. The new plan is aimed at redressing colonial and apartheid spatial planning and development through the delivery of socially economically and spatially integrated housing delivery.

National Minister, Premier of the Western Cape, my department is committed to:

• Accelerating housing delivery for all in the Western Cape;
• Creating a non-racial integrated and prosperous Western Cape;
• Promoting and facilitating affordable rental and social housing market;
• Ensuring quality living environments;
• Alleviating poverty and creating opportunities for work through the delivery of housing units in the Western Cape;
• Ensuring property can be accessed by all as an asset for wealth creation and empowerment;
• Leveraging growth in the economy;
• Utilizing housing as an instrument for the development of sustainable human settlements, in support of spatial restructuring and development plans; and
• Add value to and synergize with other spheres of government to speed up housing delivery.

We have just emerged from the IDP conference where we have identified new opportunities in not only in thinking but also in implementing IDP programs so that those we serve benefit more. A clear message from the conference says:

• Our landscape needs to transform;
• We must work towards growing the economy and creating jobs for the jobless;
• Providing political leadership and administrative support in the implementation of IDP processes;
• We must accelerate the delivery of basic services water, electricity, sanitation etc to the people especially the poorest of the poor;
• Assist and empower our municipalities to deliver on our promises to the People of this country;
• Building public/private partnerships with business, labour, and community-based organizations in executing IDPs;
• Aligning IDPs with the provincial spatial development framework, growth and development strategy and the national spatial development perspectives; and
• Promoting Integrated Development Planning as a performance plan for all municipalities.

With those few words Ladies and Gentlemen: I am looking forward to your full participation, inputs, innovations etc. Without wasting anymore time let me invite the Honourable national Minister/Premier of the Western Cape to address you.